2015 POGO/Ooch Survivor Conference
On October 16-18, 2015, Camp Oochigeas and POGO presented the 3rd Life After Childhood Cancer Survivor Conference, a gathering for survivors of childhood cancer aged 19 and over. More than 70 adult survivors of childhood cancer joined us at Camp Oochigeas in beautiful Muskoka for a weekend of connecting with other survivors, learning about managing their health and living well after childhood cancer.
Scroll down to view the Survivor Conference slide presentations that POGO was granted permission to share. If you are interested in a specific subject, click on a subject tag at the bottom of a post to view all the slides or videos that cover that subject.
NOTE: The content of each presentation captures the unedited information and opinions presented by the speaker. Please note that the information contained in the presentations was current at the time it was presented – there may be further information in subsequent literature. Listed speaker credentials were current at the time of presentation.
PLENARY SESSIONS
We Are All Storytellers: Discovering the Power of Knowing and Sharing Your Story
Michael Lang, MSc
Raymund Ong
Managing Your Fertility: Current Options, Practical Strategies
Sara R. Cohen, LL.B.
Karen Glass, MD, FRCS(C), FACOG
All in the Family: Talking to Siblings about Childhood Cancer
Norma D’Agostino, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Shamata, sibling of childhood cancer survivor
Kevin Wang, MD/PhD student
Beyond Survival: Emotional Equilibrium After Cancer
Christopher Recklitis, Ph.D., MPH
WORKSHOPS
Communicating with Family and Friends
Norma D’Agostino, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Common Workplace Issues: Tools and Strategies
Lori Otte, BA, RRP
Genetic Testing for Cancer Survivors – Who and When
Nikki Parkinson, MSc, CGC
We Are All Storytellers: Discovering the Power of Knowing and Sharing Your Story
Presentation Description:
"Facts lead to knowledge, but stories lead to wisdom." - Dr. Rachel Remen
Many childhood cancer survivors may not realize that they are living an amazing story or know how to begin telling it. This fun and interactive session drew on Mike Lang's and Raymund Ong's own personal experiences, as well as short digital stories and murals created by other cancer survivors, to explore the idea of storytelling as it relates to cancer and our lives in general. The goal of the session was to empower and inspire survivors to tell their stories so that the wisdom they have gained from their painful (and incredible) life journey can be shared with others who need it.
Telling Their Story: Video from the 2015 Survivor Conference
Five attendees of the 2015 Ooch/POGO Survivor Conference shared their perspectives on survivorship; the challenges and obstacles they faced, the effect their diagnoses had on their lives and how they've found hope, inspiration and fulfilment. These individuals shared their stories in the hopes that they will resonate with other childhood cancer survivors, who in turn may choose to tell their own.
Video Credit: Michael Lang, Survive & Thrive Expeditions Ltd.
Speakers:
Michael Lang, MSc
Executive Director, Survive & Thrive Cancer Programs
Specialist, Person Centred Care Integration, AHS CancerControl
Research Assistant, University of Calgary
Raymund Ong
Founder, C4 Murals
